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Touchdown 49ers on the first drive of the game – a 10-play march. The 49ers mostly ran and if this drive is any indication, the 49ers want the game a lot more than Washington. The 49ers ran seven times and they got solid blocks including a great lead block by Vernon Davis on a DeShaun Foster 9-yard gain. Barry Sims also threw a key block on a Gore 5-yard run out of the shotgun. On the 2-yard Are the throwbacks making the difference?

49ers 7-0.

Washington Drive

Wow, this team is inspired a three-and-out from Washington. Parys Haralson made an unbelievable play on second down. He was double-teamed, but still got penetration. He then tore off the double, spun back and tackled Clinton Portis after a 2-yard gain.

49ers Drive

Is Mike Martz coaching for his job? Everyone says he’ll get fired, including Jay Glazer today on Fox. But maybe I’m wrong. Maybe the combination of Singletary sitting on Martz and making him run works well. Glazer also reported Singletary wanted to keep Martz. Now look at this game. Martz has run 13 times in 18 plays and the 49ers are moving the ball easily on Washington. Joe Nedney missed a 48-yard field goal or the 49ers would have scored on their first two drives.

Washington Drive

Dashon Goldson was in on the dime defense. But he couldn’t prevent a 9-yard gain from Jason Campbell on a crucial third down. Campbell looks sharp on this drive. The 49ers need to work on their blitz before next season. They’ve given up at least nine touchdowns on blitzes and they rarely get home for a sack. Whether it’s personnel or scheme, they have to do better than that. The quarter just ended and Washington has a first-and-goal at the 9.

Wash Drive Cont

Clinton Portis just scored on a 4-yard run that was way too easy. Randy Thomas got a great seal block on Justin Smith walk-in. So much for a 49ers’ blowout. It’s 7-7.

49ers Drive

Gore starts the drive with 19 yards on five carries, so he needs another 3 for 1,000. Clinton Portis has 31 yards on seven carries and a TD. Gore will not like that. The two former Hurricanes are very competitive.

49ers Drive Con’t

With a 3-yard gain, Gore gets his 1,000, but Shaun Hill just threw an interception. He was going to Josh Morgain but Carlos Rogers stepped in front. Morgan can’t run. He was telling me this week that he can’t cut and he has worked with Isaac Bruce on trying to do more head fakes since his cutting ability is so curtailed. Redskins get a field goal out of the deal and now lead 10-7.

49ers Drive

Hill fumbled the snap for a 9-yard loss to start the drive. He was then flushed on 3rd-and-11 when Andre Carter got past Joe Staley. When he’s flushed left, Hill doesn’t have the arm strength to throw it over 20 yards it seems. He ran for 7 yards. The 49ers are getting plenty of yards running out their three-receiver set and pulling the off guard. They should keep doing that.

Washington Drive

Santana Moss has over 1,000 yards receiving for the third time in his career if anyone cares. Michael Lewis is down and Mike Singletary is out there looks like a right leg injury. He’ll be back. Lewis does this every game. I think he leads the league in getting helped off and then going back in. The 49ers’ defensive ends are really getting pushed around. There’s too much running room for Portis. Maybe Lewis won’t be back. He has a left knee injury and he’s headed to the locker room. But that means Dashon Goldson replaces him. Santana Moss is going against Walt Harris often and disparity in speed is striking. The Redskins are at the 49ers’ 31 now.

Wash Drive Cont.

Two minute warning and the Redskins just got a first at the 49ers 19 after a tight end screen to Chris Cooley. Singletary is supposed to negotiate his deal tonight with the 49ers according to Fox. How would a loss impact his bargaining position. Every yard gained and point scored by the Redskins might be taken money out of his pocket.

Wash Drive Cont.

Mark Roman got a 15-yard head start on a blitz and hit Jason Campbell. He didn’t go down and Roman was injured. The third 49er to be injured on the drive after Michael Lewis (knee) and Manny Lewis (hamstring). Touchdown Washington. Randle El stretches for the score and now it will be reviewed. If it stands, the 49ers are looking at 17-7 score.

49ers Drive

The Redskins drive was so long, Shaun Hill had to warm up his arm on the sidelines. 49ers look enemic on their final drive before the half. An overthrow by Hill by Johnson on the far sideline; a short completion to Jason Hill and then a dropped pass by Michael Robinson to end the half. The 49ers will need more second-half magic like they got last week from Hill. 17-7 Redskins.

THIRD QUARTER

Washington Drive

Manny Lawson is back, but Goldson is in for Michael Lewis at strong safety. Mark Roman has also returned. Fumble! Who’s got it? Takeo Spikes.

49ers Drive

Run left with Gore, run right with Gore out of the wildcat. Run right with Foster and two lefts on short-and-goal and the 49ers are in after the turnover. Touchdown. All runs. The 49ers shouldn’t pass again. They are spreading out the Redskins and demoralizing them with smashmouth football. 17-14 Washington.

Washington Drive

A 13-yard sack Justin Smith thwarted the Washington drive. He executed a perfect spin move to get Campbell who had taken a deep drop. He did have a receiver open deep, but Smith got to him too fast.

49ers Drive

Shaun Hill is really off. Washington brought a blitz, it was picked up, Isaac Bruce got open on a shake route and Hill missed him. Lots of errant passes by Hill today. It will up to the defense again. They showed a graphic on TV. Hill is ranked last in passer ranking in the third quarter. He’s 5th in the first quarter, sixth in the second and fourth in the fourth.

Redskins Drive

Goldson just knocked away a third-down pass to Randle El. He was perfect in his coverage. Too bad he had a knee injury that knocked him out for the shank of the season. But there’s always next year.

49ers Drive

Now it’s the Redskins who are getting injured. Chris Horton, their fine rookie safety from UCLA was helped off the field. Josh Morgan also limped off the field, probably with an re-injury of his groin tear. Morgan made a spectacular run after the catch to nearly get a first down on 2nd-and-17. He got 16 yards.

Washington Drive

The 49ers had a three-and-out again, but Parys Haralson was offsides. Nate Clements is doing a fine job on Randle El, who keeps taking him deep. Takeo Spikes got run over by Chris Cooley and then caught a 14-yard pass on third down to keep the Redskins’ drive going. Spikes complained about pass interference, but he just got beat.

FOURTH QUARTER

Washington Drive Cont.

Santana Moss just dropped a first down pass. A terrific break for the 49ers. Washington has to punt and it was nearly blocked by Keith Lewis. He had it blocked by just missed it. Lewis has been called for running into the kicker and maybe that was what he was worried about there. This game has gotten very basic. The 49ers are just using their 3-4 front with two safeties back and Washington is running out of their pro-set formation. It’s talent against talent.

49ers Drive

Two terrific catches by running backs have the 49ers down to the Redskins’ 11. Foster and Robinson both made fine receptions. It’s thire-and-1 from the 11. Look for the shovel pass.

49ers Drive Cont

Hill finds Hill for a touchdown and the 49ers have regained the lead 21-17. The 49ers have to thank their RB’s who made athletic plays on that drive

Washington Drive

A three and out for Washington. Splendid play by Justin Smith on third down.

49ers Drive

35-yard gain on the punt return by Allen Rossum set up the 49ers. A good completion to Morgan got them into field goal range and Joe Nedney made good on a 33-yarder to make it 24-17 with 5:06 left. I’ll have to look at the replay of this game to see what happens with Joe Staley. Hill has gotten a lot of heat from the left side.

Washington Drive

Justin Smith is taking over this game. He just wheeled Thomas right back Campbell face. … Completion to Cooley for a first down. They can’t stop him. … Long pass to Randle El to the end zone it’s over thrown. … Again this is basic fundamental football with a 3-4 versus the pro set. Moss gets away from Harris for a first down. I don’t get why the Redskins don’t throw it to Moss on every play. … Thomas, the left tackle, is off-sides. … Huge gain by Campbell 23 yards on a scramble. The middle was wide open. Now it’s 1st-and-goal from the 10. … 2-minute warning.

Washington Drive Con’t.

1st and goal from the 9, and here we go. Inside run Portis for 2 yards. Smith on tackle. Huge 3rd down. … Pass to Cooley to the 2. Here’s the game with 4th-and-goal fron the 3. QB draw TD! If Washington gets another drive, the 49ers have to consider spying Campbell. He has killed them with runs. It’s tied.

49ers Drive

The 49ers have 62 seconds to work with. Jason Hill open for TD and Shaun Hill never saw him. That’s the frustration with Hill, he can’t get it down the field. The 49ers now have a third-inches. 19 yards to Robinson. Great pass in the middle of the field to Bryant Johnson. Ball at the 21. Now it will be Joe Nedney for about a 38-yard field goal.

49ers Drive Cont

Good is Kick! Win 49ers! Mike Singletary’s contract demands just went up. 49ers win 27-24 and finish with a 7-9 record. When was the last time the 49ers felt this good about themselves?